This week was unfortunately very busy and I did not get to go out and shoot any new night-time photographs; so I decided to use one from the archives. This photo was taken while exploring the resort hotel I was staying at during a trip over to the Big Island. The small town of Keauhou is south of the more popular Kailua-Kona. For the golfers out there, I highly recommend the Kona Country Golf Club ocean course as it is not too hard (for us beginners) and the views are spectacular. There is even a blowhole near one of the greens.

Every Friday night, the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki produces a brief fireworks display. I tried to get a few shots of the show last week but the photos did not come out as I had hoped. This week I went with fellow photographer, Kekiinani, and tried a different vantage point. I got much better results this time; Kekiinani also shot some spectacular photos so be sure to check her blog as well!

One of my other "hobbies" is outrigger canoe paddling; and while walking about last night I saw this and thought it would make an interesting night shot. The combo of using @ 24 sec. exposure and tweaking with the white balance (cool color temp) brought out the color. And of course a wide angle lens helped to create the fun distortion.

Well, another year on the calendar has flown by. They aren't kidding when they say the older you get, the faster time flies! I think I just blinked and 2006 was done and gone.

We had a very nice Christmas this year. Parrish was home from Hawaii, and we drove over to Memphis to spend Christmas Day with at my brother's house, with my parents. My mom actually cried when she opened the little scrapbook I made for her. And she was thrilled with the laptop computer my dad bought for her. Dad ended up with two Panini grills--one from us, and one from mom. He exchanged ours for a DVD player and joined Netflix. Kelly has had fun playing with his new router and router table, too. And I really love the purse & wallet Kelly bought for me! I photographed this with my new Sharpics D-Flector, a really cool tabletop studio!

Parrish stayed in Memphis for a few days with her father, then went to Atlanta with Kate and her family for a big New Years Eve bash. Meanwhile, Kelly and I went to dinner at Stoney River one night, and the movies another night with our new friends Tony and Antoinette. Tony is also Kelly's boss. And true to Schwartz form, we were one of the last to leave Stoney River, and also one of the last to leave the Bistro after the movie. And The Good Shepherd is great! But who doesn't like Matt Damon?

What a busy year we have ahead of us! Parrish returns to the University of Hawaii this weekend, and her classes for the spring semester start on Monday. She's trying to cram in doctor appointments and seeing all her friends by the end of the week. Beginning next week, Kelly will be traveling a lot. At least all of his destinations are port cities, and not in the middle of nowhere.

I am really looking forward to Stacy Julian's Library of Memories class at www.BigPictureScrapbooking.com which starts tomorrow. I am also considering 28 Days, and The Art of Choosing Joy, both of which begin in February. I am also working my way through several of the classes I enrolled in last year, but never finished, like My Word (a journaling class) and Finders Keepers and Random Me A-Z. I just never seemed to have the time do do the projects and lessons at the time... I really want to complete these classes now that I am in the slowest time of year for my business.

I do have two bridal shows to work this weekend, after dropping Parrish off at the airport. And Kelly will probably spend the weekend working on the kitchen remodel. I'll post photos of that progress later...